Lacrosse head with differentiated ball stop

ABSTRACT

A lacrosse stick includes an elongated handle and a head frame which adapted for mounting thereon a net and which includes first and second portions which are made from different materials. One of the materials is typically more flexible than the other. Part of the handle and head frame may be formed as a unitary structure made of the same material. In addition, the stick provides a mechanism for forming the head frame with a center of gravity at a location which facilitates the ability of a player to discern orientation of the head frame by feel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to lacrosse sticks. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to a lacrosse stick which mayinclude a head frame including two portions which are formed ofdifferent materials wherein one material is more flexible than theother. The lacrosse stick may also include a unitary structure which isformed of one of the materials and includes a portion of the head frameand a portion of the handle.

2. Background Information

In the game of lacrosse, players use sticks to receive and shoot a ball.Lacrosse sticks generally include an elongated shaft and a head portion.The player grips the shaft with one or both hands, and utilizes the headportion, which includes mesh, or a net, to receive, carry and shoot theball during play.

With the decreasing availability of high grade ash or hickory wood,decreasing availability of the woodworking skills necessary to form andfabricate lacrosse sticks having integral one-piece wooden stick/headframe constructions and in further view of the labor intensive nature ofthe fabrication of such integral one-piece wooden stick/head frameconstructions it has become commonplace to fabricate lacrosse sticksusing a straight shaft element formed of straight grained wood or woodlaminate or a tough, lightweight metallic or reinforced plastic tubularelement such as in the nature of a thin gauge metallic extrusion or afiber reinforced composite plastic material and to affix, typically witha screw, to the forward end of the shaft a separate, bilaterallysymmetrical head frame composed of a one-piece tough syntheticthermoplastic material, such as a high impact strength nylon. In suchversions of a lacrosse stick, the head frame comprises a rearwardlyoriented socket element to receive the forward end of the shaft, a pairof laterally divergent side wall elements extending forwardly of saidsocket element and a transversely oriented nose element bridging theforward ends of said pair of side wall elements. The apex of the angledefined between said divergently oriented side wall members is truncatedby means of a rearwardly directed arcuate wall element bridging saidside wall members and defining a ball stop. The transverse nose elementis, desirably, canted forwardly at an upwardly positive angle so as todefine a scoop-shaped lip member which facilitates the player's abilityto receive a ground-borne lacrosse ball.

One problem with such a construction is that the rearwardly orientedsocket element which is also made of the same flexible material as theframe must have additional material added to increase the stiffness andstrength required to hold the shaft. This added material restricts theplayer from having their hand as close as possible to the head frameholding the ball, thereby reducing ball control.

Another ongoing problem with such construction is the difficulty for aplayer to ensure that the upper open rim of the head frame is facing theincoming ball. Some thermoplastic lacrosse head frames have a stop inthe side wall of the head frame. The intention is to lower the center ofgravity of the lacrosse head in an attempt to enable a player to sensethe orientation of the lacrosse head by feeling the difference of weightdistribution when the head is correctly oriented to receive and carrythe ball. The problem is that there is a very subtle difference in thisweight distribution that makes it difficult for a player to sense, byweight alone, the rotational orientation of the head. It is thereforegenerally necessary that the player first visually observe the head andthen properly adjust the stick and its head's rotational orientation onthe basis of such visual observation. This need for visual observationof the stick's head preparatory to receiving the ball at leastmomentarily distracts the player from observing the field of play andthe ball and thus reduces his or her playing efficiency. In accordancewith the present invention, this problem has been successfullyaddressed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a lacrosse stick having front and backends defining therebetween a longitudinal direction and comprising: ahead frame adapted for mounting thereon a net and comprising a firstportion formed of a first material and a second portion formed of asecond material which is more flexible than the first material.

The present invention also provides a lacrosse stick having front andback ends defining therebetween a longitudinal direction and comprising:a head frame adapted for mounting thereon a net and comprising a firstportion and a second portion, the first portion comprising a ball stop;a longitudinally elongated shaft mounted on and extending rearwardlyfrom the first portion; wherein the shaft and first portion are aunitary structure formed of a first material and the second portion isformed of a second material which is different than the first material.

The present invention also provides a lacrosse stick comprising: a headframe adapted for mounting thereon a net and comprising a ball stop; alongitudinally elongated shaft comprising front and rear longitudinallyelongated segments; the front segment and ball stop being formed as aunitary structure; the rear segment having a longitudinal centerline anda lowermost surface defining a horizontal plane parallel to and belowthe centerline; a grip section of the front segment which is adjacentthe ball stop and has a bottom surface which is higher than the plane;and a mechanism for causing the center of gravity of the head frame tolie at a distance sufficiently below the plane whereby a player is ableto sense orientation of the head frame through tactile stimuli generatedby the unitary structure acting through the rear segment, the mechanismcomprising the bottom surface of the grip section being higher than theplane.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated of the best mode inwhich Applicant contemplates applying the principles, is set forth inthe following description and is shown in the drawings and isparticularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appendedclaims.

FIG. 1 is a right side elevational view of the lacrosse stick of thepresent invention with portions of the handle cut away and with the netremoved.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the lacrosse stick shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded right side elevational view of the lacrosse stickshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded top plan view of the lacrosse stick shown in FIG.1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged exploded right side elevational view of the headframe and a portion of the handle.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged exploded top plan view of the head frame andportions of the handle.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the head frame and portion of the handlewith the net attached to the head frame and a lacrosse ball shown indashed lines abutting the ball stop.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The lacrosse stick of the present invention is shown generally at 10 inFIGS. 1 and 2. Stick 10 has front and back ends 12 and 14 which definetherebetween a longitudinal direction of the stick, and left and rightsides 16 and 18 which define therebetween an axial direction of thestick. Front and back ends 12 and 14 define therebetween a longitudinallength L1 of stick 10. Stick 10 generally includes a head 20 and alongitudinally elongated shaft or handle 22 which is rigidly secured tohead 20 and extends rearwardly therefrom. Handle 22 includes a fronthandle segment 24 which is rigidly secured and extends rearwardly fromhead 20, a rear handle segment 26 which is rigidly secured to frontsegment 24 and extends rearwardly therefrom, and an end cap 28 which ismounted on the rear end of rear segment 26 and defines rear end 14. Head20 includes a head frame 30, a net 32 (FIG. 7) such that head 20 isconfigured to receive, carry and shoot a lacrosse ball 34 (dashed linesin FIG. 7) during play. Other than FIG. 7, the other figures are shownwithout net 32 for clarity. Head frame 30 includes a rear portion 36 anda front portion 38 which is rigidly secured to rear portion 36 andextends forward therefrom. Rear portion 36 includes a ball stop 40having a back end 42 which also serves as a front end of front handlesegment 24 and handle 22. Ball stop 40 has a forward facing surface 41which is concavely curved as viewed from above. Rear portion 36 has aU-shaped configuration as viewed from above.

Handle 22 thus has a front end 42 and a back end 14 which definetherebetween a longitudinal length L2 of the handle. Front segment 24has a back end 44 such that front and back ends 42 and 44 definetherebetween a longitudinal length L3 of the front segment. In theexemplary embodiment, length L3 is approximately one-half length L2, andis preferably at least ⅙, ⅕, ¼ or ⅓ length L2. It is contemplated thatfront segment 24 may be extended rearwardly such that cap 28 isconnected directly to the rear end of segment 24 whereby the separaterear handle segment 26 may be eliminated. In such a case, length L3would be nearly the same as length L2 inasmuch as cap 28 adds only avery small amount to the overall length of handle 22. However, handle 22is most typically formed using front segment 24 and rear segment 26 incombination.

Rear handle segment 26 is a straight longitudinally elongated shafthaving front and back ends 46 and 48 (FIG. 4) defining therebetween alongitudinal length L4. In the exemplary embodiment, length L4 issimilar to length L3 and typically somewhat longer. However, length L4may be more or less than length L3 as will be evident with reference tothe above discussion of the possible variations of length L3. End cap 28has a front end 50 such that front and rear ends 50 and 14 definetherebetween a length L5 which is relatively short, typically on theorder of about 1 to 1½ inches or so. Cap 28 defines a cavity 52 having afront entrance opening 54 for receiving therein rear end 48 of rearsegment 26 so that end cap 28 is secured to rear end of shaft 26. Endcap 28 is typically formed of rubber or an elastomer which is relativelysoft but durable and may be formed of any suitable material and have anysuitable configuration known in the art. Rear handle segment 26 is asubstantially rigid structure typically formed of materials typicallyused to form standard lacrosse stick shafts. Such materials include, butare not limited to straight grained wood, a wood laminate, or a tough,lightweight metallic or reinforced plastic tubular element such as athin gauge metallic extrusion or a fiber-reinforced composite plasticmaterial.

In accordance with the invention, front handle segment 24 and rearportion 36 of head frame 30 is formed as an integral one-piece member ora handle-ball stop unitary structure 56. Unitary structure 56 is thusformed entirely or primarily of the same material throughout. Structure56 is typically formed entirely or primarily as an injection moldedplastic material typically in the form of a composite material. Forexample, the composite material typically includes a suitable injectionmoldable plastic which is reinforced with fiberglass, aramid fibers,carbon, boron or ceramic materials. One suitable composite material is afiberglass-reinforced nylon. While structure 56 is entirely or primarilyformed of such a material which is uniform throughout, it may also becoated with an outer coating. Although various coatings may be used, onedesirable type of coating involves the use of nano-materials orparticles which are typically metal.

The material from which unitary structure 56 is formed is substantiallyrigid, but typically is somewhat more flexible than the material fromwhich rear handle segment 26 is formed. The tensile modulus ofelasticity of each of rear segment 26, unitary structure 56 and frontportion 38 is given below, as measured in accordance with ISO 527. Thematerial from which rear segment 26 is formed has a tensile modulus ofelasticity typically in the range of about 12,000 to about 100,000 MPa(megapascals), with the analogous value for a rear segment 26 made ofwood typically within the range of about 12,000 to about 16,000 MPa, fora rear segment 26 made of aluminum typically within the range of about16,000 to about 26,000 MPa, and for a rear segment 26 made of acomposite material typically within the range of about 26,000 to about100,000 MPa and typically on the order of about 50,000 MPa. The materialfrom which unitary structure 56 is entirely or primarily formed has atensile modulus of elasticity typically in the range of about 15,000 or16,000 to about 30,000 or 35,000 MPa. Front portion 38 of head frame 30is typically formed of an injection moldable plastic material which ismore flexible than either of the materials used to form segment 26 andunitary structure 56. The tensile modulus of elasticity of the materialforming front portion 38 is typically in the range of about 700 or 800to about 2100 or 2200 MPa. The material forming front portion 38 istypically a synthetic thermoplastic material such as a high impactstrength nylon. The use of the unitary structure 56 thus minimizes thematerial needed to make the connection between the front end of thehandle and the ball stop region of the head frame, thus overcoming theproblem discussed in the Background section of the present applicationin which the added material used in prior art lacrosse sticks in thisregion restricts the player from positioning his or her hands as closeas possible to the head frame. In addition, forming front portion 38from a material which is more flexible than that of structure 56 stillprovides the flexibility, durability and high impact resistance found inthe head frames of modern lacrosse sticks.

Handle 22 and unitary structure 56 are now described in greater detail.Rear segment 26 of handle 22 is a straight elongated shaft as viewedfrom the side (FIG. 1) and as viewed from above (FIG. 2). Rear segment26 has a longitudinal centerline CL which is centered between thestraight upper and lower surfaces 27 and 29 of shaft 26 as well asbetween the straight left and right sides thereof. Centerline CL passesthrough ends 46 and 48, is horizontal in the position of stick 10 shownin FIG. 1, and may be used as a reference for various structures ofstick 10. Bottom surface 29 of shaft 26 defines a horizontal plane P2which is parallel to and below centerline CL. Front segment 24 of handle22 is substantially straight as viewed from above although it may bevery slightly tapered along its left and right sides such that it isslightly wider at its front end 42 than at its rear end 44. CenterlineCL passes through front segment 24 and serves as its center as viewedfrom above. Centerline CL also serves as the centerline for head frame30 as viewed from above. Unitary structure 56 has a front end 58 suchthat front and rear ends 58 and 44 define therebetween a length L6 ofstructure 56. Front end 58 also serves as the front end of rear section36 such that front and rear ends 58 and 42 define therebetween a lengthL7. In the exemplary embodiment, length L7 is about ¼ length L6, andlength L3 is about ¾ length L6 although this may vary substantiallydepending on variations in length L3 and length L7. Structure 56includes left and right side wall segments 60A and 60B which extendrespectively laterally outwardly and forward from the left and right ofball stop 40 and form portions of respective left and right side wallsof head frame 30. Front end 58 serves as the front terminal ends ofsegments 60A and 60B. Unitary structure 56 has a Y-shaped configurationas viewed from above such that front segment 24 serves as the upright ofthe Y, and ball stop and 40 and sidewall segments 60 serve as a pair offorks extending therefrom.

As viewed from the side (FIG. 1), front handle segment 24 includes astraight rear or back section 62, a rear tapered section 64 extendingforward from back section 62, a narrow grip section 66 extending forwardfrom rear tapered section 64, and a front tapered section 68 extendingforward from narrow grip section 66 to front end 42. Front taperedsection 68 is relatively short in the longitudinal direction, and thusgrip section 66 is spaced rearwardly of and adjacent ball stop 40. Likethe top and bottom surfaces of rear handle segment 26, the top andbottom surfaces of back section 62 are straight, parallel and horizontalin the position of FIG. 1. The top of back section 62 is part of a topor uppermost surface 70 of front segment 24 which is straight andhorizontal from front end 42 to rear end 44 as viewed from the side.Thus, the top or uppermost surface of each of sections 62, 64, 66 and 68is straight and horizontal and thus at the same height. Back section 62defines a cavity 72 having a rear entrance opening 74 at rear end 44 forreceiving the front end 46 of rear segment 26, which is inserted forwardthrough entrance opening 74. In addition to a friction fit between theouter surface of the front portion of rear segment 26 and the innersurface which defines cavity 72, front and rear segments 24 and 26 arerigidly secured to one another typically by a fastener such as a screw76 having a threaded shaft and an enlarged head wherein the threadedshaft is typically substantially perpendicular to centerline CL and isreceived in respective holes formed in back section 62 and the frontportion of rear segment 26 so that screw 76 extends from back section 62to rear segment 26.

Due to the use of unitary structure 56, screw 76 is spaced rearwardlyfrom back end 42 of head frame 30 by a relatively substantial distanceor length L8, which more particularly is a distance from the front ofscrew 76 to the front of handle segment 24 or the back end 42 of ballstop 40 or rear portion 36. In standard lacrosse sticks, a fastener suchas a screw is typically used to secure the front of an elongated shaftor handle to the head frame at a location which is adjacent the ballstop. In particular, such screws are typically only 1 or 2 inchesrearward of the ball stop. In contrast, distance or length L8 istypically at least 6, 8, or 12 inches, and may be as much as 14, 16, 18or 20 inches. In the exemplary embodiment, handle 22 is free of a screwor other fastener which is rearward of and within distance L8 of thefront end 42 (or back end of ball stop 40) which extends outward fromthe outer surface of the handle or which is used to secure the headframe to the handle.

Back section 62 has a substantially straight and horizontal bottomsurface 77 extending forward from rear end 44; rear tapered section 64has a tapered bottom surface 78 which tapers upwardly and forward fromthe front of bottom surface 77; narrow grip section 66 has asubstantially horizontal and generally straight bottom surface 80 whichextends substantially horizontally forward from the front of taperedbottom surface 78; and front tapered section 68 has a tapered bottomsurface 82 which tapers downwardly and forward from the front of bottomsurface 80 to an abrupt halt at back end 42 of rear portion 36, which istypically generally perpendicular to centerline CL. Tapered bottomsurface 78 provides gentle angled transitions respectively with thefront of bottom surface 77 and the back of bottom surface 80, whiletapered surface 82 similarly provides a gentle angled transition fromthe front of bottom surface 80. These gentle transitions allow theplayer using stick 10 to easily slide his or her hand longitudinallyalong any portion of front segment 24 without catching on a sharplyprotruding component. Although a player may position his or her handalong any portion of the handle, the stick is often held with one handgrasping or gripping rear segment 26 adjacent back end 14 and the otherhand grasping or gripping grip section 66 or portions of front segment24 adjacent section 66. Top surface 70 of front segment 24 issubstantially parallel to centerline CL and spaced there above, whereastapered surface 78 angles upwardly and forward relative to an belowcenterline CL, and tapered surface 82 angles downwardly and forwardrelative to and below centerline CL. Bottom surface 80 and top surface70 define therebetween a vertical distance or height H1 which is thevertically narrowest portion of front segment 24 and of handle 22.Height H1 is substantially less than the vertical distance or height ofrear segment 26 defined between top and bottom surfaces 27 and 29, andalso substantially less than the vertical distance or height of backsection 62 defined between top and bottom surfaces 70 and 77. Height H1is typically no more than, and may be less than, ¾ said vertical heightof rear segment 26. Height H1 is typically no more than, and usuallyless than, ¾ said vertical height of back section 62 and may be no morethan, or less than ½ the vertical height of back section 62.

Bottom surface 80 is substantially parallel to centerline CL and ispreferably at the same height or above centerline CL although it may,for example, be below and closely adjacent centerline CL. Bottom surface80 is higher than bottom surfaces 29, 77, 78 and 82. As shown in FIG. 1,the vast majority of head frame 30 is positioned lower than centerlineCL and also substantially below plane P2 such that the center of gravityof head frame 30 and lacrosse head 20 is a sufficient distance belowcenterline CL, plane P2 and a horizontal plane P1 defined by uppermostsurface 70 that a player is able to sense orientation of the lacrossehead through the tactile stimuli generated by the unitary structure 56acting through rear segment 26 when the player has one hand on rearsegment 26 and the other hand on grip section 66. Stick 10 thus providesa mechanism for causing the center of gravity of head frame 30 and ofhead 20 to lie at a distance sufficiently below the plane whereby aplayer is able to sense orientation of head frame 20 by feel or throughtactile stimuli generated by the unitary structure acting through therear segment, wherein the mechanism includes the bottom surface of thegrip section being higher than the plane.

Head frame 20 is now described in greater detail with primary referenceto FIG. 4. Front portion 38 has a back end 84 such that front and backends 12 and 84 define therebetween a longitudinal length L9 of portion38. Front end 12 and back end 42 define therebetween a longitudinallength L10 (FIG. 1) of head frame 20. In the exemplary embodiment,length L9 is approximately twice length L7 although length L9 may bethree times length L7 or more. Furthermore, length L9 may be about thesame as length L7 or even less than length L7 although length L9 is mosttypically at least as much as or more than length L7. In the exemplaryembodiment, length L9 is about 7/10 L10 although length L9 may be asmuch or more than 8/10 or 9/10 length L10. Length L9 is typically atleast ⅓ of length L10 and typically at least 4/10, 5/10 or 6/10 oflength L10. In the exemplary embodiment, length L7 is about ⅓ or alittle more than ⅓ of L10 although this may vary in keeping with thevariation of lengths of portion 38. While length L7 in the exemplaryembodiment is between 3/10 and 4/10 length L10, length L7 may be lessthan 1/10 length L10 although it is typically at least 1/10 or 2/10length L10 and may be as much as or more than 6/10 or 7/10 length L10.In the exemplary embodiment, the sum of length L7 and length L9 isgreater than length L10 in that the front of rear section 36 and theback of front section 38 longitudinally overlap one another.

Front portion 38 includes left and right side wall segments 86A and 86Bwhich are secured respectively to left and right segments 60A and 60B ofrear portion 36 in order to form left and right side walls of head frame20. Front portion 38 further includes a lip or nose element 88 which isaxially elongated, connected to the front ends of the left and rightside walls of the frame head and extend therebetween so as to traversecenterline CL as viewed from above. Whereas the inner surfaces of ballstop 40 and the side walls tend to be generally vertical, the inner orupper surface of nose element 88 is typically canted forward andupwardly in order to assist the player in scooping the lacrosse ball offof the ground. Multiple net receiving or net mounting holes 90 areformed through nose element 88 as well as through the ball stop and sidewalls of frame head 20 for mounting thereon net 32, which typicallyincludes several cords or straps which extend through some or all ofsaid holes. Frame 20 has leftmost and rightmost points 92 and 94defining therebetween a maximum axial width W1 of the frame head.Leftmost point 92 is adjacent the connection between the left end ofnose element 88 and the front of the left side wall 60A, 86A whereas therightmost point 94 is adjacent the right end of nose element 88 and itsconnection with the front of the right side wall 60B, 86B.

FIG. 2 illustrates left and right connections 96 and 98 between thefront of rear portion 36 and the rear of front portion 38. Connections96 and 98 are rearward of the leftmost and rightmost points 92 and 94and nose element 88, and forward of ball stop 40 or may be at the frontends of ball stop 40. More particularly, left side wall segment 60Aadjacent its front end 58 and left side wall segment 86A adjacent itsrear end 84 are joined at left connection 96. Likewise, right side wallsegment 60B adjacent its front end 58 and right side wall segment 86Badjacent its rear end 84 are joined at right connection 98. In theexemplary embodiment, each of unitary structure 56 and front portion 38are injection molded components, and left and right connections 96 and98 are overmolded connections which are formed by overmolding one ofportions 36 and 38 over or onto the other injection molded portion 36 or38, or by overmolding one of structure 56 and front portion 38 on theother. However, these connections may be formed in other ways asdiscussed further below. Preferably, connections 96 and 98 are rigid,permanent connections. The left and right halves of head frame 20 aresubstantially bilaterally symmetrical or are mirror images relative to avertical longitudinal plane P3 in which centerline CL lies. The sidewalls of frame head 20 are divergent side walls which generally divergeoutwardly respectively to the left and right and rearwardly relative toone another and relative to plane P3 from their respective connectionsto ball stop 40 to their respective connections to nose element 88.Thus, the ball stop, side walls and nose element of head frame 20 forman outer perimeter which is formed entirely by front and rear portions36 and 38 and which defines an upwardly opening receiving spaceincluding a mouth 93 and a throat 95. Mouth 93 is the wider portiondisposed between the leftmost and rightmost points 92 and 94 extendingfrom nose element 88 rearwardly to the narrower throat 95 which extendsforward from ball stop 40 between the narrower portions of the sidewalls.

As shown in FIG. 1, right side wall 60B, 86B includes an upper rim and alower rim wherein the upper rim includes a rear upper rim segment 100 ofright side wall segment 60B and a front upper rim segment 102 of rightside wall segment 86B, and the lower rim includes a rear lower rimsegment 104 of right segment 60B and a front lower rim segment 106 ofright segment 86B. The lower rim is thus spaced downwardly of the upperrim. A rear brace 108 extends between and is rigidly secured to thebottom of rear upper end segment 100 and the top of rear lower rimsegment 104. A front brace 110 likewise extends between and is rigidlyconnected to the bottom of front upper end segment 102 and top of frontlower rim segment 106 whereby braces 108 and 110 provide additionalstrength to the overall structure of head frame.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, each of rear upper and lower rimsegments 100 and 104 include wider sections 112 as viewed from above,with narrower sections or fingers 114 secured to and extending forwardfrom wider sections 112. Each wider section 112 defines a forward facingsurface 116 from which each corresponding finger 114 extends forward tofront terminal end 58. Each finger 114 includes a longitudinallyextending laterally facing surface 118 which extends forward from thecorresponding surface 116 whereby the corresponding surfaces 116 and 118define a notch 120 into which a fastening post 122 extends outwardlyfrom surface 118 of finger 114. Each post 122 is forward of thecorresponding surface 116 and rearward of the corresponding terminal end58. Similarly, each front upper and lower end segment 102 and 106includes a wider section 124 and a narrower section or finger 126secured to and extending rearwardly therefrom to the respective rearterminal end 84. Each wider section 124 defines a rearward facingsurface 128 from which each corresponding finger 126 extends rearwardly.Each finger 126 has a longitudinally elongated laterally facing surfacewhich extends rearwardly from surface 128 such that the correspondingsurfaces 128 and 130 define a notch 132. A hole 134 is formed in eachfinger 126 extending from inner surface 130 to the outer surface of thefinger 126.

When rear and front portions 36 and 38 are joined to one another to formconnections 96, each post 122 is received within the corresponding oneof holes 134, each finger 114 is received in corresponding notch 132,each finger 126 is received in a corresponding notch 120, each rearwardfacing terminal end 84 abuts a corresponding forward facing surface 116,each forward facing terminal end 58 abuts a corresponding rearwardfacing surface 128, and laterally facing surfaces 118 and 130 abut oneanother. In the exemplary embodiment in which one of portions 36 and 38is overmolded onto the other, each of the surfaces of rear portion 36which engages surfaces of front portion 38 also form a chemical bondwith one another, thus providing a chemically bonded connection. Aspreviously noted, while the overmolded connections are highly desirable,the connections between the front and rear portions 36 and 38 may beformed in other ways, as with fasteners such as rivets which passthrough fingers 114 and 126 or similar structures which overlap oneanother. Thus, post 122 also represents such fasteners as rivets whichmay be received in holes analogous to holes 134.

As shown in FIG. 7, net 32 is mounted on both the rear portion 36 andfront portion 38 of head frame 20 via mounting holes 90. FIG. 7 alsoillustrates that lacrosse ball 34 when positioned in the throat of headframe 20 abutting surface 41 of ball stop 40, ball 34 is adjacentconnections 96 and 98.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because suchterms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadlyconstrued.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is anexample and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown ordescribed.

1. A lacrosse stick having front and back ends defining therebetween alongitudinal direction and comprising: a head frame adapted for mountingthereon a net and comprising a first portion formed of a first materialand a second portion formed of a second material which is more flexiblethan the first material.
 2. The lacrosse stick of claim 1 wherein thesecond portion defines the front end of the stick.
 3. The lacrosse stickof claim 1 wherein the first and second portions overlap one another inthe longitudinal direction.
 4. The lacrosse stick of claim 1 furthercomprising a longitudinally elongated shaft mounted on and extendingrearwardly from the head frame; wherein the shaft comprises a rearsegment and a front segment; and the front segment and first portion area unitary structure formed of the first material.
 5. The lacrosse stickof claim 4 wherein the rear segment is formed of a third material whichis different than the first and second materials.
 6. The lacrosse stickof claim 5 wherein the first material is more flexible than the thirdmaterial.
 7. The lacrosse stick of claim 1 wherein the first and secondportions abut one another.
 8. The lacrosse stick of claim 1 furthercomprising an overmolded connection between the first and secondportions.
 9. The lacrosse stick of claim 1 further comprising achemically bonded connection between the first and second portions. 10.The lacrosse stick of claim 1 further comprising a ball stop of the headframe; and wherein the first portion comprises the ball stop.
 11. Thelacrosse stick of claim 10 further comprising a longitudinally elongatedshaft mounted on and extending rearwardly from the head frame; and alongitudinally elongated forward handle segment of the shaft; andwherein the first portion comprises the forward handle segment.
 12. Thelacrosse stick of claim 11 further comprising front and back ends on theelongated shaft defining therebetween a first longitudinal length; andfront and back ends on the forward handle segment defining therebetweena second longitudinal length which is at least ⅙ the first length. 13.The lacrosse stick of claim 1 wherein the elongated shaft comprises alongitudinally elongated handle segment formed of a third material; andthe first material is more flexible than the third material.
 14. Thelacrosse stick of claim 1 wherein the lacrosse stick has left and rightsides defining therebetween an axial direction; and the head frame has amaximum axial width defined by the second portion.
 15. The lacrossestick of claim 1 wherein the second portion extends forward of the firstportion.
 16. The lacrosse stick of claim 1 wherein the head frame hasfront and back ends and comprises a ball stop adjacent the back end ofthe head frame, a nose element adjacent the front end of the head frame,and a pair of divergent sidewalls extending between the ball stop andnose element; and the second portion comprises the nose element.
 17. Thelacrosse stick of claim 16 wherein the second portion comprisesrespective segments of the sidewalls.
 18. The lacrosse stick of claim 16wherein the first portion comprises respective segments of thesidewalls.
 19. A lacrosse stick having front and back ends definingtherebetween a longitudinal direction and comprising: a head frameadapted for mounting thereon a net and comprising a first portion and asecond portion, the first portion comprising a ball stop; alongitudinally elongated shaft mounted on and extending rearwardly fromthe first portion; wherein the shaft and first portion are a unitarystructure formed of a first material and the second portion is formed ofa second material which is different than the first material.
 20. Alacrosse stick comprising: a head frame adapted for mounting thereon anet and comprising a ball stop; a longitudinally elongated shaftcomprising front and rear longitudinally elongated segments; the frontsegment and ball stop being formed as a unitary structure; the rearsegment having a longitudinal centerline and a lowermost surfacedefining a horizontal plane parallel to and below the centerline; a gripsection of the front segment which is adjacent the ball stop and has abottom surface which is higher than the plane; and a mechanism forcausing the center of gravity of the head frame to lie at a distancesufficiently below the plane whereby a player is able to senseorientation of the head frame through tactile stimuli generated by theunitary structure acting through the rear segment, the mechanismcomprising the bottom surface of the grip section being higher than theplane.